Boy rapists given custody sentences by Court of Appeal

Boy rapists given custody sentences by Court of AppealImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Court of Appeal quashed the initial sentences for two of the offendersByDaniel Sandford, UK correspondent  and Curtis Lancaster, South of EnglandPublished2 July 2026, 16:06 BSTUpdated 3 minutes agoTwo boys convicted of raping two teenage girls in Fordingbridge, Hampshire have been given four years' detention after their non-custodial sentences were overturned at the Court of Appeal.Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr said the court had "no other choice but to change these sentences" when she addressed the boys, who joined the hearing via a video link from Southampton Crown Court.She said the court had concluded that trial judge, Judge Nicholas Rowland, had "erred in his assessment of the seriousness of the offences".In a statement read out after the hearing, the family of one of the victims said "justice has finally been done".To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, One of the girls was raped in an underpass near the River Avon in FordingbridgeA third boy who was also convicted of rape for his part in filming one of the attacks did not have his sentence changed.The initial sentences were referred to the court after they were called "unduly lenient" by Attorney General Lord Hermer.All the children in the case have been granted anonymity because of their young age - with the offenders referred to as X, Y and Z.Delivering the courts conclusions, Carr said "sentences of detention for X and Y were unavoidable"."You both raped two girls on two different occasions. You were enjoying it and egging each other on. You made it worse by filming it," she told them.Carr made it clear that had the boys been adults, then sentences in excess of 10 years would have been required.She said that both boys have already served 231 days on curfew which will co...